Marxism and digital communication

Question 1

What is the general marxist attitude towards digital communication?

Answer 1

They are critical of digital forms of communication, particularly the way in which these are being used by global capitalist corporations

Question 2

What do marxists argue about digital communication?

Answer 2

It is not new but simply a different version of other forms of communication that have been exaggerated by other sociologists and postmodernists

Question 3

What type of sociologists are Cornford and Robin?

Answer 3

Marxists

Question 4

What do Cornford and Robins (1999) argue about the general presentation of digital communication ?

Answer 4

they are doubtful of the idea that ‘digital communication is a new form of democratic open communication which can lead to greater equality in the creation and spread of new ideas and communication’

Question 5

How do Cornford and Robins (1999) doubt the claims of digital communication being new, democratic and open?

Answer 5

They instead argue that the people who own and control the digital media are capitalist who want to make profit and ideologically control the masses

Question 6

What comparison do Cornford and Robins (1999) draw from digital communication in relation to social classes and power?

Answer 6

In the past the ruling class owned production means (factories, machines) which led to the production of goods to be sold for a profit, today, power and money comes from a variety of sources for example the media which can shape ideas of the population

Question 7

What does Bagdikan (2014) say about Cornford and Robins (1999) comparison of the impact of digital communication between social classes, from past to present?

Answer 7

This change to power and money coming from a variety of sources reflects the changes seen recently in the general non-digital media being owned by a smaller and smaller number of media moguls who influence the content and organisation of their media with their predominantly conservative values

Question 8

What has media convergence allowed for in general?

Answer 8

an increasing way to access different types of media

Question 9

What opportunities has media convergence allowed for the owners of media companies?

Answer 9

creates opportunities for “cross fertilisation” of ideas and marketing strategies

Question 10

What does the cross fertilisation of ideas and marketing strategies mean for the owners of media companies?

Answer 10

they can sell their media in a number of different formats, creating vast opportunities to make profit

Question 11

What does marxism argue the media encourages and reinforces?

Answer 11

The media encourages capitalism and therefore reinforces inequality in society and reinforce a bourgeoisie ideology

Question 12

How do marxists believe the media reinforces a bourgeoisie ideology?

Answer 12

Because new forms of digital technology can ideologically control people in new and subtle ways

Question 13

What type of view does Fuchs (2015) take of digital communication?

Answer 13

a conflict view of the role of digital communication in reproducing and legitimising inequality in society

Question 14

What did Karl Marx argue that Fuchs (2015) observed?

Answer 14

The ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch, the ruling idea

Question 15

The ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch, the ruling idea

Answer 15

Means the ruling class has the means of material production and control over the means of mental production so the idea of those who lack the means of mental production are subject to it

Question 16

What does “The ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch, the ruling idea” make marxists argue about digital communication?

Answer 16

All forms of communication are ideological and can function on behalf of the ruling class to justify class inequality.

Question 17

What do marxists think the role of digital social media is (along with other ideological agencies)?

Answer 17

To bring about a state of false consciousness so that citizens do not criticise or challenge the unequal and unjust organisations of capitalist society

Question 18

Why do marxists tend to argue that the popularity of social media networks is to reinforce false consciousness?

Answer 18

Because digital social networks mainly focus on non-critical issues such as identity, entertainment and consumption so are rare,h important in creating social change and instead act as a distraction

Question 19

Why do Marxists believe that those who participate in digital culture are not equal?

Answer 19

Because corporations, governments and industries in corporation media have greater power than consumers

Question 20

Why do marxists think corporations, governments and industries in corporation media have greater power than consumers?

Answer 20

Because they can suggest digital technologies and networks that can strengthen the power of existing elites and contribute to the muting of the political and economically repressed

Question 21

What does Chomsky (2011) argue about platforms like twitter?

Answer 21

While appearing to give a voice to ordinary people, they create superficial forms of communication which act as a distraction from the real control of knowledge

Question 22

What does Chomsky (2011) argue about communication on platforms like twitter?

Answer 22

It is shallow and acts to draw people away from serious communication

Question 23

What does Seabrook (2004) say about the link between globalisation and digital communication?

Answer 23

It creates “cultural imperialism” which is dominated by the western richer cultural industries who use digital forms of communications to impose their cultural views and products on the rest of the world

Question 24

How does Seabrook (2004) view the integration into a single global economy and culture?

Answer 24

as a “declaration of cultural war” upon other cultures

Question 25

Why does Seabrook (2004) view the intergration into a single global economy as a 'declaration of cultural war' upon other cultures?

Answer 25

Because it implies that traditional cultures have little or no value which can lead to cultural homogenisation

Question 26

What does Seabrook (2004) argue cultural imperialism attempts to replace diversity with?

Answer 26

He argues it attempts to replace diversity with homogeneity and results in painful social and religious disruption as local cultures resist

Question 27

What is an example of a reaction to processes such as cultural imperialism?

Answer 27

The growth of islamist fundamentalism

Question 28

How does Jenkins (2017) believe most digital media is developed?

Answer 28

By the investment of big media corporations

Question 29

Where does Jenkins (2017) believe the ownership of digital media lies?

Answer 29

It is concentrated in the hands of a few major transnational corporations

Question 30

Who thought of the idea of 'the new media monopoly (2004)'?

Answer 30

Bagdikian

Question 31

What does Bagdikian argue in 'The new media monopoly (2004)'? (in relation to Jenkins ideas)

Answer 31

That the internet is just another mode of communication which is prey to the interests of large corporations who squeeze smaller providers, destroying the possibility of independence in content or service providers

Question 32

What does an examination of the internet show about Bagdikian's ideas of 'The new media monopoly (2004)'?

Answer 32

That it is dominated by a small number of media corporations

Question 33

What is an example of the internet being dominated by a small number of media corporations?

Answer 33

Most of the internets commercially viable content is controlled by FAANG (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google)

Question 34

What does McChesney (2000) highlight?

Answer 34

The similarity of digital content and social networks around the world. Companies like Twitter and Google are like imperial powers that colonise the minds of millions of people around the world

Question 35

What does the 'Cult of Homogeneity' mean?

Answer 35

That through the means of Twitter and Facebook communication can "speak to everyone, but no one in particular", reducing peoples' opportunities to speak out, especially less powerful groups such as women, children, disabled and ethnic minorities

Question 36

What to Marxist argue about the regulation of the media?

Answer 36

There is a lack of regulation in relation to digital communication as it is mainly governed by private companies rather than the state

Question 37

How do Marxists believe the interned digital forms of communication are used?

Answer 37

As another method of surveillance, a form of observation as a way to control and regulate people in the interests of the wealthy

Question 38

What do critics of capitalism and digital communication argue about the internet?

Answer 38

Adults are spending excessive amounts of time online

Question 39

What did Garside (2014) find about the time adults spend sleeping vs consuming media?

Answer 39

The typical adult spends 8 hours 41 mins consuming media and 8 hours 21 mins sleeping

Question 40

What does the Snowden report show?

Answer 40

There is now concern over the monitoring of personal digital communication between individuals by the state as this threatens individual liberty and freedom

Question 41

What does Cornford and Robin argue about digital communication in relation to surveillance and the snowden report?

Answer 41

It is simply a method of capitalism controlling people more subtly through their use of various social media under the guise of protecting people from extremism or criminal acts

Question 42

How is formal social control dealing with issues of digital communication?

Answer 42

The law has not yet fully caught up with the changes and is often ill equipped to deal with such problems

Question 43

What are the advantages of Marxism's perspective on digital communication?

Answer 43

- Despite its age, it still offers an interesting way of looking at the role of digital communication in a global context - Supported by Curran and Seaton (2010)

Question 44

Why do Curran and Seaton (2010) support the marxist view of digital forms of communication?

Answer 44

They investigated the content of newspapers and found evidence to support the claim that newspaper owners often interfered with content (Rupert Murdoch)

Question 45

What are the disadvantages of Marxisms perspective on digital communication?

Answer 45

- Neophiliacs - Independent bodies - Criticised for assuming a conspiracy - overemphasised social class - criticised by neo marxist

Question 46

Neophiliacs

Answer 46

those who adopt the use of new media suggest the rise in new digital media, the internet and citizen journalism undermines the influence and control of media owners, giving more power to the masses suggesting that the divide between the ruling class and working class is not as great.

Question 47

Independent bodies

Answer 47

such as Ofcom regulate the media and as a result of the Leveson Inquiry changes are occurring Within the media industry suggesting that there is less of a class system in the media

Question 48

Why can marxism be criticised for assuming a conspiracy on the part of providers of digital forms of communication?

Answer 48

Because the owners are NOT united in a conspiracy because companies are in competition with each other in order to gain big profits and shares of the market

Question 49

Why can marxism be criticised for its over emphasis on social class?

Answer 49

Marx over looks inequality that can be caused by age/gender/disability etc. There are other "muted voices" that do not get heard because of digital communication and it is not all related to the means of production and capitalism.

Question 50

Why do neomarxists criticise marx ideas of digital communication?

Answer 50

because they claim that ideas exist independently outside of the capitalist system, not all ruling class ideas are ideological. Castells argued that new modern technology can revitalise democracy and can give a voice to muted groups of people